About

We can help you
The Enterprise Agency exists to encourage and support the development of a stable and diverse local economy.

The Agency is a not for profit organisation offering a range of support services, business counselling, advice, training and consultancy. We deliver models of best practice and skills development to start and improve enterprises.

Company background
The Enterprise Agency for Wear Valley & Teesdale is the result of a merger between the Wear Valley Development Agency (WVDA) and the Teesdale Enterprise Agency (TEA), completed at the end of June 2006 - 2007.

TEA was set up in 1988 to provide support for new businesses in Teesdale. Since its formation the Agency has delivered a broad range of publicly funded business support projects and consistently over-achieved against targets. TEA has a reputation for quality, innovation and continuous improvement within the field of business support. The Agency has experience of fund management & has helped clients access over £1.5 million of grant funding in the last 3 years.

As with TEA, WVDA was set up to provide support for new businesses. Over the years, the Agency has developed and delivered a broad range a business support projects. In more recent times the focus has been on rural SME’s and supporting the Voluntary & Community Sector in Wear Valley. The Agency has project managed the delivery of ESF, ERDF & NRF projects and successfully financed and built the Wear Valley Business Centre.

The Enterprise Agency for Wear Valley & Teesdale is focused on the following core activities:

• Supporting new & existing businesses
• Management Training & Development
• Voluntary, Community & Social Enterprise

Organisation
The Agency is headed up by a Chief Executive, reporting to a Board of Directors made up of key people from the regional community and businesses. We have 26 members of staff include a team of Business Advisors, Specialists, Managers and Administrators.

The Agency is also closely involved with a number of stakeholders including:

Local Clients
Durham County Council
BA College
2D
UTASS
Teesdale Marketing
Learning Partnership
Teesdale LSP ( Economic Theme Group)
Wear Valley LSP (Forum for Business)
MTI Wear Valley

Sub Regional Clients
CDEP
Co. Durham Development Co.
Co. Durham Enterprise Agencies
Learning & Skills Council
Acumen Trust
a4e Consulting

Regional & National
NFEA
ONE NorthEast
Government Office North East
BLNE
NEABDA
Pathfinder